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China Allegedly Copied Dozens of Russian Weapons Systems Through Espionage and Cyberattacks
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China has sharply reduced its reliance on Russian arms, cutting imports by 40% between 2009 and 2023, largely due to its extensive reverse-engineering of Russian weapons systems and widespread theft of military technology, according to ChinaPower, a research initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
While Russia once accounted for 85% of China’s foreign arms purchases, that share has dropped to 68% as Beijing increasingly copies Russian designs and develops its own military capabilities, ChinaPower wrote.
Over the past 20 years, at least 21 cases of Chinese espionage and cyberattacks targeted Russia’s defense sector, mainly in aerospace. In 2004, three Russian court cases led to convictions for passing aviation and satellite data to China. Between 2021 and 2023, four more incidents involved leaked aerospace and laser tech.
ChinaPower notes that beyond spying, China has repeatedly violated licensing agreements with Russian firms by copying military hardware for domestic production. The J-11 fighter jet is based on Russia’s Su-27, while the HQ-9 missile system closely resembles the S-300.
In 2019, Russia’s state arms conglomerate Rostec reported 500 cases of illegal copying over 17 years and openly accused China of cloning engines, jets, air defense systems, and missiles.
After replicating Russian gear, China gradually reduced its purchases and shifted toward producing its own equipment, including jets and warships. Still, it relies on Russia for one key component: aircraft engines. Between 2017 and 2023, engines accounted for over half of China’s arms imports - mostly from Russia - though China is developing its own alternatives.
Now, the dynamic is shifting: Russia increasingly depends on China for key components and dual-use tech, ChinaPower reports. According to US intelligence, Chinese state defense firms are supplying semiconductors, drones, jet parts, and electronic warfare equipment. Exports of CNC machines —a crucial part of military manufacturing—rose tenfold from January 2022 to July 2023, from $7 billion to over $68 billion.
China has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that Beijing is supplying Russia with weapons, calling the accusations “groundless,” Reuters reported, citing Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on April 18.
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